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Tangier Combined School praised for new preschool, high SOL scores; teachers and parents ask for more staff
Summary
Students, parents and teachers from Tangier Combined School told the Accomack County School Board that the school is performing well academically but faces staffing pressures. Speakers thanked the board for a new preschool class, new playground equipment and virtual course access, then asked for more certified teachers and assistants.
Representatives from Tangier Combined School addressed the Accomack County School Board on April 1 to thank the division for new supports and to request additional certified teachers and classroom assistants.
School leaders and parents described a newly added pre-K class and new playground equipment used by students and the wider Tangier community. Presenters credited virtual course arrangements that enabled middle- and high-school students to take additional classes (including biology and other secondary science courses) and reported strong Standards of Learning (SOL) pass rates in several subjects: English 86 percent, math 96 percent and history 93 percent. Presenters said science performance lagged at a 64 percent pass rate and that constrained in-person instruction contributed to that result.
Longtime Tangier staff and parents also raised staffing concerns. Speakers said the school currently has six certified teachers and several new instructional assistants, and asked the board to consider hiring another teacher or additional assistants when possible to sustain program continuity as staff approach retirement.
One Tangier teacher identified herself to the board during public comment, saying, “My name is Lonnie Charnick. I am a special education teacher and faculty commander at TCS.” She and other presenters described how distance learning arrangements and teacher-sharing with mainland schools have allowed students to access a wider set of courses and credits.
The board received an update on Accomack Primary School renovations during the same meeting. Staff said the last remaining work items have been cleared, contracts for renovation mobilization signed and permits (including asbestos abatement where required) in place; work was expected to begin in the coming weeks once bonding arrangements were finalized.
Ending Board members thanked Tangier presenters and acknowledged the need to monitor staffing and capital projects; no formal action was taken on the staffing requests at this meeting beyond discussion and acknowledgment of the requests.
